Trailer



4 H. KAPFERER.

TRAILER. APLlcATloN man 1M{.2.192o.

1,401,786, l Patented @60.27, L

s SHEETS-SHE H. KAPF'ERER.

TRAILER.

APPLICATION F|LED,1AN.2. 1920;

' Patented Deo. 27, 1921.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Hela/@427er H. KAPFERER.

TRAILER. APPLICATION FILED IAN. 2, 1920. '1,4019786 Patented'Deu. 27,1921

6 SHEETS-SHEET 3- H. KAPFEHER.

TRAILER.A

APPLICATION FILED 1AN.2, 1920.

1.401,786. Patented Dec. 27, 1921.

H. KAPFERER.

TRAILER.

APPLICATloN FILED 1AN.2.1920.

Patented D60. 27, 192 L 6 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

mmm@

H. KAPFERER.

TRAILER.

APPLICATION FILED .IAN-2,1920.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 6.

HENRY KAPFERm, 0F BOULOGNE-SUSRf-SEIN'E, FRANCE.

' Taarten Specification of Letters Patent.v Patented Dee. 27, 192i.

Application led January 2, 1920. Serial No. 348,999.

T o all whom' t may concern Be it known that I, HENRY KAPFERER, engineer, citizen of the French Republic, residing -at Boulogne-sur-Seine, Department of Seine, France, have invented certain new and useful improvements in Trailers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to running gear which is self steering or which automatically turns in the proper direction during running, that is to say to running gear mounted upon a pivot 0f such a nature that the point of contact between the rolling element and the surface upon which it rolls is not in the prolongation of the pivotal axis.`

The invention refers more particularly to running gear of the class in question intended for use with vehicles running upon the ground, as the said gear is most adaptable for that class of vehicles, but it is not to be deemed to be confined to this application.

The principal object of this invention is to construct a gearzof the character indicated which will obviate danger which might result from having a, supporting wheel unrestricted with respect to the movement of its axis; the said invention furthermore contemplating the provision of means which will cause the trailer t0 follow the course of travel of the vehicle to which it is coupled. i Y

The invention consists essentially in combining with the pivotal axis of gear of the class in question a brake arrangement of such a nature that the said axle, in place of being entirely free, as has usually been the case, can only move in an angular 0r rotary direction about its axis by overcoming a resistance which is suiiciently strong to prevent displacement through inertia or through accidental causes when the rolling element proper ceases to be in contact with 4the surface upon which it is intended to run, and yet sufficiently weak as not to-prevent the reaction arising from the said surface Ymodifyingthe angular position of the gear.

This construction enables running gear of the class in question to be of great utility when iitted to the landing chassis of aerial machines and also applicable with advantage to trailers for land vehicles intended to travel at a high speed.

The invention also includes other features or arrangements which are preferably used at the same time, and which will be more particularly described hereafter.

Among these arrangements is one more exclusively applicable to trailers for land vehicles and practically requiring that the running gear of the trailer shall be of the kind already mentioned. This arrangement consists in forming the means or device for aty -movinglwith the said axle, the said device being nged upon a pivot pin, which pin is perpendicular to the axle, and at one-end of a beam, the opposite end of such beam being hinged by means of a p ivot pin parallel to the irst mentioned pin to a fixed piece, the whole mechanism being so arranged that the beam can oscillate around lthe pivot pin connected to the fixed element,

without bringing the pivot pins nearer together. i

The invention includes more particularly certain constructional embodiments of its principles, and comprises, as new industrial products rolling gear of the class in question comprising the said principles, special parts suitable for their construction and apparatuscomprising the application of running gear embodying the principles especially gear for the landing chassis of aerial vessels, and above all, for trailers for road vdehicles intended to be drawn along rapi l r iyn order that the invention may .be clearly understood it will now be described with reference t0 the accompanying drawings but it is to be understood that the drawings and description are merely given by way of example. I

Figures 1 and 2 of the said drawing show respectively in side elevation and in diagrammatic plan, upon a very small scale, a trailer for an automobile, connected to the said automobile in one method of carrying out that portion of the invention relating to the means of attachment, the running gear comprising a single wheel mounted accord ing to one of the methods described in 'that portion of the invention relating to such mounting.

Figs. 3 and l show in transverse section on the line 33, Fig. 2 and in corresponding plan, on a larger scale, the connecting elements for attaching the trailer to the automobile.

Fig.` 5 shows in section on the line 5-5, Fig. 2, and on the same scale as Figs. 3 and l certain of the parts for mounting the running gear.

rigs. 6 and 7 show in a similar manner 1 to Figs. 3 and l parts having the same functions as those shown in 'the latter gures, but constructed and arranged according to a second method of carrying out that portion of the invention relating to the means of attachment. i

Figs. 8 and 9 show respectively in longitudinal section and in plan, with parts removed, and to a small scale, a trailer having a single running wheel mounted according to a second method of carrying out that por-- tion of the invention relating to the mounting.

Figs. 10 and 11 illustrate respectively Vv'in side elevation and plan on an enlarged scale, the braking mechanism and its association with the chassis frame.

Figs. 12 and 13 show respectively in diagrammatic back view, with portions in section, and in part diagrammatic plan to the same scale as Figs. 8 and 9, the back of a trailer fprovided, with two running wheels mounted according to a modified method of carrying out the second form of 'that portion of the invention relating to such mounting.

Fig. 14 shows in a similar mahner to Fig. 12 the same parts illustrated in the latter gure, but with the parts shown in the position they would take up when one of the running wheels passes over an obstacle.

As will be seen the invention is shownV` in the drawings as applied to the attachment and running gear of a trailer for an automobile vehicle, as this is one of the most useful applications of the invention.

ln the first place, as regards the trailer.

This trailer a. apart from the means of attachment to the automobile and its running gear, 1s constructed in any appropriate manner.

As regards the means of attachment` @i Moines This is so constructed and arranged that it only allows the trailer to so move as regards the vehicle to which itis attached, that the planes of symmetry of the' two vehicles always coincide.

TW ith this object in view the means of attachment is preferably constructed from parts which, on the one hand enable .the

trailer to oscillate, relatively to the vehicle to which it is attached, around an anis perpendicular to the plane of symmetry of the latter, and so that, on the other hand, it is prevented moving in any other manner with respect to the vehicle by which it is drawn.

The means of attachment may with advantage be constructed in the manner shown at Figs. 1 to Ll.

this construction l) are two shafts lined to the front of the trailer, each of which has at its forward extremity a connecting eye with a horizontal and transverse opening c. al are corresponding forked connecn tions attached to the back of the automobile, Iand so constructed that the said eyes can be connected to the said forks by means of horizontal hinge pins e. c As an alternative and as shown at Figs.` 6 and 7, the two shafts b which are similar to those already described in other respects may have connecting eyes c1 with vertical` openings. all are two hooks adapted to en gage the said eyes c1. Connected to each of these hooks is preferably a clamping bolt all which as will be clearly seen from the drawing can be brought into or out of action when it is desired to attach or detach the trailer.

As regards the running gear.

This gear comprises, in the preferred construction, either a single wheel f or, a pair of such wheels.

The single wheel, as illustrated at Figs. 1 to 5, or each of the wheels as illustrated at Figs. 8 to Mis rotatably mounted in a suitable fork or support g. This fork is eX- te'nded into an axle 71 pivotally mounted in a housing z', integral with the trailer.

lt is to be observed that the arrangement is such that the point of contactof the wheel, or the point of contact of eachbof the wheels with the ground, is not in the prolongation of the aXis of the shaft h corresponding to the wheel; the running gear being self steering or self turning as to direction.

When the invention is carried into practical eect in the manner just described, a trailer is obtained which possesses advantages over those in ordinarynse.

ln ordinary cases the trailer is connected to the leading vehicle by means of a hinged 'or like draw bar and is provided with running gear which is not self steering or self setting as to direction, which is the cause of drawbacks.

its

rechtse The improved trailer constructed according to the invention allows the vehicles to be backed and Aalso allows the trailer even when curves are being negotiated in the backward or forward direction, to move within the limits of thewheel base of the vehicle to which the trailer is attached, provided of course that the distance between the point of contact of the running gear on the ground and the rear axle of the automobile is not greater than the distance between thle front and rear axles of the said automobi e. i

Although the practical results from the arrangements already described are extremely satisfactory, it is however desirable although not indispensible, in order that the movements of the vehicle should be correct, to embody, in the running gear, the principle about to be described. f

The gear itself is mounted in a resilient manner, and, most important of all, a braking system is added, of such a nature that when the gear for some reason or other is not resting on the ground it retains the direction in which it is set or only deviates to an insignificant extent from the direction into which it has been set through the movements of the vehicle and the force of lreac-I tion exerted from the ground.

The supplementary arrangements just mentioned are supposed to be embodied in the remainder of the cases now to be considered.

As to the resilient mounting, y' is a helical spring, of suitable size and strength, mounted in any desired manner between a bearin for the axle 7a. and a suitable projection. 1% may be located with advantage between the housing a' and a projection on the axle. The arrangement is in any case such that the spring tends to push the axle downward or to push the housing upward.

As regards the braking device, this may with advantage be constructed as shown at Fig. 5, /but the arrangement illustrated in Figs. 8 to 14 is to be preferred.

ln the arrangementshown at Fig. 5 the braking device is of the so called disk type, comprising preferably a plurality of superposed disks or their equivalents 1c and Z, only one of each being shown in the drawings.

One of the disks is rigidly connected to the casing and the other disk Z is rigidly connected to the axle 71.

The disks are brought into frictional resilient Contact by the compression spring m, the pressure of which may be regulated by screwing a capfitted at the top of the housing up or down as may be required.

In the method of carrying out the invention illustrated at Figs. 8 to 14 the brake mechanism is of the so called gripping or clamping type. It comprises two semicircular grips n and o, adapted to embrace the axle h and to clamp the latter in a way which is at once resilient and capable of adjustment. For this purpose a hinge may be provided at p, byvme'ans of which the two jaws are connected together at one extremity.

is ascrew threaded bolt pivoted at one en to a pin parallel to that of the hinge p and to the I ixed jaw. vThe bolt g passes through an eye in the lug at the free end of the jaw o ands is a helical compression spring resting between the said lug and a nut fr' by means of which the pressure between the jaws can be regulated and the grip on the axle It as will be readily understood.

In place of the methods for exerting a braking action upon the axle of the running gear just described, other types of braking mechanism may be adopted for instance one of the band brake type.

It is to be observed that where the running gear is mounted so that it is resilient, the braking mechanism should be so constructed and arranged that it allows for the free longitudinal sliding movement of the axle or of each of the axles h of the running 9o ear.

g For this purpose various arrangements may be adopted. For instance in the case of the method of carrying out the invention shown at Figs. 1 to 5, where the resilienty means are connected to the trailer, in order `that the axle h can move longitudinally, longitudinal featherways or their equivalents may be provided in one of the parts engaging corresponding feathers in the other part, 100 or some other analo ous device allowing for the longitudinal s iding motion may be adopted. i

Where the first braking method is employed, it is desirable to make the disks 105 Z and 7c throughthe friction between which the axle l1, is controlled of considerable thickness so that the wear shall be slow and consequently any play which might tend to cause a sliding movement of the axle t shall 110 be' inconsiderable.

According to another method of carrying out the invention and as shown at Figs. 8 to 14, the axle it is so mounted that it can only move in a rota-'ry or angular direction 115 about its axis.

In this case the means of connection can be such that as the trailer follows the vehicle the parts can accommodate themselves to the direction of the running gear. j

As a consequence, where the second method of constructing the braking mechanism is adopted, it is desirable, in order to connect the jaws n and o to the trailer to provide a kind of beam .at t. This is so 125 mounted that it can turn vabout a horizontal axis at one of its extremities, where it is connected to the jaw n, for instance by means of screw bolts u. The beam t is also connected by a horizontal pivot at the other ex- 130 instance by means out a bolt e5 Yis preferably not formed as a torh, as shovvn9 ai inertes the trailer, 'tor e passing through an elongated eye provided in a piece fw tixed to the trailer, the joint thus formed being so proportioned and arranged that it does not interfere with the'movements either ot the beams or or the parts connected thereto.

The said beam l? is preferably made and arranged in all cases so that it is as long as possible, and in order that it should be less bulky, it is desirable to place it transversely with respect to the trailer, as shown at 8 and 9, so that it play is produced tremity t t0 a xed part or Where the second extremity to is connected,

the resulting play. at the other extremity is reduced to a minimum.

The arrangement just described may be adopted both Where there is a single running Wheel and TWhere there are tvvo independent Wheels.

ln the latter case, as tvvo beams t are required they may be to a certain extent combined together. This may be effected by forming the outer ends not as has inst been described, but in the manner shown at Figs. i2 and lll, so that a telescoping system provided, which enables one of the tvvo Wheels to be displaced independently of the other, each of the two braking devices acting as a xed point with respect to the other.

YW ith this arrangement, each time the running gear is forced to leave the ground, either it does not deviate from the direction in which it is set, or else it only deviates therefrom to an insignificant extent, and as a result it remains in the direction or substantially in the direction required, when it again 'comes into contact with the ground. This causes the tendency to slid to be reduced or eliminated, and avoids the risk oit the running gear being vvrenched. away or partly or Wholly broken.

Each time the vehicle has to round a curve, the running gear is compelled by the reaction exercised thereon by the ground to take up automatically the required direction and to remain in that direction as long as the radius of the curve does not change.

The correct operation of the Whole mechanism only depends upon the proper regulation of the braking means. As has already been stated, the invention 1s not limited in any Way to the methods of carrying the same into effect which have already beendescribed and illustrated on the accompanylng drawings, but includesy all modifications coming Within a fair nterpretation of my claims.

Among these modification may be mentioned the following:-

A construction in which the Wheel or each of the Wheels of the running gear is replaced by twin wheels. lln this case the support g but by a member attached between the said pair ot Wheels.

l/l hat l claim as my invention and desire 'to secure by Letters Patent or the `United States oi? America is l. ln a running gear tor trailers, a -frame, a substantially vertically disposed sha't, means mounted for vertical oscillation lor holding the shalt in operative relation t the trame, means tor retarding rotary move- ,.ment oil 'the shaft, and a traction Wheel connected to the shaft, the bearing of which is offset with relation to the axis ot the shantB 2. trailer, a trame, a shalt, means -for holding the shaft approximately verti cally in operative relation to the trame to permit rotary motion ore the shalt and `movement axially, a traction Wheel having hearing1 connected to the shaft, the said bearing being oilset with relation to the axis et the shaft, and means tor retarding the 'rtree rotary motion ot the shalt.

3. a trailer, a trame adapted to be connected to a vehicle, a support lor the trame comprising a shalt, a bearing connected to the :trame in which the shalt is rotatable, means associated with the bearing whereby the said shaft is movable axially, a traction wheel, a bearing therefor, means alor corrV necting the bearing to the axle whereby the said bearing is otlset with relation to the axis of the axle, and means tor frictionally retarding the rotation of the shaft.

4l. ln a trailer, a "frame, a bearing, means pivotally connected to the chassis and to the bearing for vertical oscillatory motion, a shaft rotatably mounted in the bearing, means for exerting friction on the said shaft, a traction Wheel, and means whereby the traction Wheel is connected to the axle odset with relation to the axis'or" said v'axle.

5. ln a trailer having a running gear comprising an axle, means for rotatably mounting the axle, vertically pivotal means connected to a frame of the trailer and to the last mentioned means, means for exertlng friction on the shaft, and a traction Wheel connected to said shaft and offset With relation to its axis;

6. ln a trailer, a frame, means for connecting the frame to a vehicle, a shaft, a

bearing in which the shaft is rotatable,

means for rotatably holding the shaft whereby the said shaft may move vertically with relation to the frame, means for exerting friction on the said shaft, and a traction Wheel having a mounting connected toI the said shalt;

'7. ln a trailer, a trame, Wheels for supporting the frame, mountings for the Wheels with relation rto which said Wheels have angular and vertical movement, means for exerting a braking action to retard angular movement of said Wheels, oscillatable means for correcting the monntings to the trame,

llo

iso

aisee I I oscillatable means for connecting the means having' telescopic joints vfor connectmountings to each other, the said means for ing the bearings together, and. braking connecting the'mountngs to each other havmeans associated with each of the shafts. v

- In testimony whereof I have hereunto set ing a telescopic joint.

5 8. In a trailer, a frame having means of my hand in presence of two subscribing Wit- 15 connection 'to a vehicle, wheels for supportv messes;

ting the` frame, vertically extending shafts i supported by thejwheels, bearings for the Witnesses:l

wheels being offset with relation tothe axes L. Turm, y 10 /of the shafts, bearings for the saidv shafts, HENRY T. Wmoox."

HENRY KAPFERER. 

